Background:

 

High police visibility discourages bad behavior. Normally, criminals, vandals, and reckless drivers think twice before executing their plans if there is the presence of police officers. This theory applies the principle of police omnipresence and high police visibility.  Thus, local law enforcement activity should be carried out in such a manner that attracts maximum attention to the police officer, police vehicles, and police “awareness”. As Bloomingdale is a “bedroom” community 7,600 residents living on over 200 small residential streets and 4 lake communities, it is important to provide an effective police presence on as many of those as possible, irrespective of the percentages in calls for service.

 

Approach:

 

Using the U.S. Department of Justice C.O.P. standards as a model, the Bloomingdale Police department has developed a more localized model that integrates basic policing principles and combines them with a high visibility, multi-department, internet and social media inclusive approach.  In addition to current tactics of traditional random street patrols, our  Sreet Of the Week (SOW) program involves providing additional high visibility police patrols on the designated street which is predetermined at random throughout the Borough of Bloomingdale.  Using the neighborhood focus guides prepared by the SOW coordinator , officers will emphasize high profile, mobile, and interactive policing with the goals being a better quality of life for all residents and increased citizen confidence in its police department. Prior to program implementation, Residents were mailed a program outline  “Quality of Life/Complaint” form via their municipal water bill. The format for this form is simply to provide the police department with specific neighborhood issues that a resident feels are important.  The form was also be posted on the Borough’s web site as well as the Bloomingdale Police Facebook page. As residents respond, a designated officer (Ptl. Steven Smith) will collect same, contact the resident, and  prepare an action plan for each street.

 

Procedure:

 

Each week, an action plan will be posted for the street that is targeted. Using high visibility devices such as a “Street of The Week” road sign, a variable message sign board, and a portable speed measuring device, police/citizen interaction will be stressed.  The primary method of policing will be vehicle patrol, limited foot patrol, and limited bike patrol. Each patrol officer working that day, in addition to random patrol tactics will target that particular street at least one extra time each hour of the shift. Using the aforementioned action plan, patrol shifts that are assigned to saturate the “STREET OF THE WEEK”, will focus on interaction with residents, and attempt, when possible, to mitigate localized quality of life , traffic, and other safety issues. Quality of life issues reported by any resident interaction should be noted in an investigation report and to the program director ( Ptl. Smith). Issues such as missing/obstructed street signs, animal complaints, suspicious cars, persons, speeding cars etc. should be noted in a complaint and forwarded to the appropriate office.

Shift supervisors as well as patrol officers are responsible for patrolling the assigned street unless a situation arises where they need to respond elsewhere. For evaluation purposes, every S.O.W.  check will is noted by dispatch as well as any actions taken.

 

 

Click here to submit a request - Select Street of the Week from the Request Type drop down list.